The View
I have gazed upon snow covered Rockies
I have been awed by Ecuadorian volcanoes and Inca highways
Peered out over African plains and the running waters of the
Nile
Looked up in wonder at Persian Gulf skyscrapers
Pondered from a plane window the Manhattan skyline below
And from a New Jersey dock, taken back by Lady Liberty
Captured the summer haze of a Canadian horizon from a peak in
Maine
Looked out a Toronto hotel window at a Winter Wonderland
Watched fish swimming beneath a canoe in a crystal pond
Watched fish swimming while beneath the blue waters of the
Caribbean
Passed miles and miles of sugar cane plantations on an island
nation
Passed miles and miles of farmland in too many states to
count
Stood amazed midst ancient ruins of Roman Spain and Mayan
Mexico
Reflected on my Celtic roots while traipsing the Scottish
Highlands
Stood by the ancient, stone altar in Columba's cave
Paused in contemplative stillness by a California
sunset
Seen great works of art in world renown galleries and museums
Walked gravelly paths in majestic, urban parks
Walked gravelly paths down in the coal mines of Wales
Gazed out over the waves back towards Charleston from
Portugal
Ran along the coastal cliffs of Peru with the Pacific far
below
Prayerfully meandered through countless magnificent
cathedrals
Photographed grand palaces from London to The Hague to
Calcutta
Been mesmerized by multicolored fields of tulips from a Dutch
train
Had a 360-degree glimpse of five states high in the
Appalachians
Felt childhood wonder walking Green Gables on Prince Edward
Island
Been overwhelmed by millions in the streets during Ethiopia's
Epiphany
Left breathless by the Chilean Andes, French Pyrenees &
Brazilian beaches
Knelt at an empty tomb in Jerusalem and stood in the desert
of Judea
Viewed
the Dead Sea and Roman ruins from the heights of Masada
Pondered
our Lord’s ministry standing on the shores of Galilee
Descended
into the muddy waters of the Jordan near Jericho
Had the colors of Fall foliage leave me in tears
And everywhere the people of God of every language, color,
and class
But Jane, the view that I love and cherish most of all is
you.
-
mark d. cooke, 11-30-16,
updated, 5-5-19, 1-10-22
